Volkswagen Up

Volkswagen India has been in the country for a long time now and has successfully set up its base in nearly, all the segments of the Indian auto industry. Now however, the German automaker is eyeing to foray into the lucrative entry-level hatchback segment that is currently being ruled by the likes of Maruti Suzuki Alto 800, the Hyundai i10, Honda Brio and the newly launched Datsun Go hatchback. And for this job, Volkswagen is betting high and hard on its hugely popular Up! hatchback that has taken the international market by storm ever since its debut in Europe and the U.S. Nothing is official yet. But our sources close to the company suggest that Volkswagen India in indeed, planning to bring its Up! hatch into the Indian market by the end of 2014 or early 2015. Further cementing the automaker’s intention, is the the fact that the test mules of the Up! have been caught doing test rounds in and around Pune and other parts of Maharashtra more than a couple of times throughout 2013. What is taking a little longer than expected, is the fact that Volkswagen in trying to localise the production of the hatchback as much as possible, so as to be able to price it competitively in the Indian market.

The exteriors don’t have any unnecessary creases or lines but a simple form and it really works well. Dimensionally, the car is 3679 mm long, 1631 mm wide and 1540 mm tall, and the wheelbase measures 2560 mm. The body-colored front bumper houses the twin fog lamps, which further accentuate the overall appeal of the car. On the side profile the car looks bit stretched and wheels comes with nice 10-spoke design. Rear-end styling is smart with a large windscreen, roof-mounted spoiler and vertical tail-lamp cluster.

Cabin of the Volkswagen Up is quite airy and spacious. The seats are generous in terms of space and comfort. Seat cushioning is good while legroom and headroom are very good too. Front seat might come with adjustable headrests. The overall interior and plastic quality is quite good. Storage-spaces are plenty as well. It might come equipped with an efficient air conditioning unit that makes the journey quite comfortable. The 220 litres of boot space is useable and can be extended by folding the rear seat's backrest down, The instrument cluster comes with smart looking three pod unit with a nice multi-information display.The car is anticipated to come with an integrated music playerwith CD, USB and AUX functions and good sound quality.

The Volkswagen Up! hatchback that is sold in Europe is the three door model. What will head to India however, is the five door version with increased wheelbase and improved cabin space to suit the needs and demand of a typical Indian family. Under the hood, expect to see a 1.0-litre petrol engine that is able to produce close to 75PS of max power. A small diesel engine could also be used to power the Up! hatchback in the diesel frenzied Indian market. The details of the diesel powerplant however, is sketchy at the moment. The Up!’s small engine does not require a large cooling intake and therefore, the car has ditched the grille and instead, opted for a plain vanilla black band that runs between the headlamps. At the back, there are the vertical taillights with an outer glass cover. Overall, the Volkswagen Up! weighs 930kg, making it as lighter as the Hyundai i10 and the Honda Brio.

*Disclaimer: The date of launch is tentative and purely based on the information received from OEMs. Autoportal will not be responsible for any discrepancy and delay with the launch dates.

The precise details about the fuel efficiency will be revealed once the car hits the market. But as per media reports the fuel efficiency of this car is somewhere between 18 and 20 kmpl.

Volkswagen Up is expected to get a combination of disc and drum brakes, which perform well. It might also come with a unique emergency city breaking mechanism with sensors to prevent collisions while driving in the city traffic. Other safety features might include dual airbags, central locking, impact beams, rear defogger etc.

The engine is not really meant for people who red line and drive, it delivers decent power while burning minimal fuel, a perfect thing for regular city running. With its compact dimensions, light controls and easy handling, it does a good job as a city car. Gearbox is expected to be butter smooth and a delight to use with a light clutch for relaxed stop-go driving in traffic. NVH levels are pretty good and vibes are very few. The steering wheel offers decent feedback, it’s light and easy to operate at low speeds and weighs up nicely as the speed increases. Ground clearance is adequate and the bottom stays clear of the worst of bumps. Like other models from the company, it will also get an efficient braking and suspension mechanism, which keeps it well balanced and stable at all times.

The excellent commuting for city driving and high fuel efficiency figures will definitely be a boon for people travelling in peak office hours. Upon its launch, the Volkswagen Up will compete against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, Hyundai i10, Datsun Go, etc.